Etihad Airways hosts IATA Global financial symposium in Abu Dhabi

The IATA World Financial Symposium

17 Sep 2014 10:30

More than 700 delegates from the airline industry have gathered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, for the International Air Transport Association’s inaugural World Financial Symposium, which opened today at the city’s Jumeirah Etihad Towers conference centre.

Delegates
were welcomed to the conference by His Excellency, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al
Nahyan, the UAE Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development.

Etihad
Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is host airline for the prestigious
event. In his opening presentation, the airline’s President and Chief Executive
Officer, James Hogan, said Abu Dhabi was not only one of the world’s fastest-growing
commercial centres, but also a growing hub for international aviation.

Mr
Hogan said: “The air transport industry is growing at a faster rate in the
Middle East than anywhere else in the world, and Abu Dhabi is one of the
strongest performers in the region.

“This
city is a natural junction for emerging markets including India, China and
Africa to connect with established markets, and is a major air transport hub of
the future.

“Etihad
Airways and its airline partners are major drivers of this growth, and Abu
Dhabi International Airport is critical not only to our own growth strategy but
also to that of Abu Dhabi.

“That
is evidenced by the construction of the airport’s spectacular new Midfield
Terminal, which will open in July 2017 to accommodate continued strong growth
of this city as an international air transport hub.”

Mr
Hogan said Etihad Airways would continue to grow through a mix of organic
growth, codeshare partnerships and minority investments in some
strategically-important airlines.

The
airline will also continue to invest in new fleet and industry-leading product,
and from December 2014 will introduce two new long-haul aircraft types, the
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and the Airbus A380 super jumbo, both of which will deliver
new, industry-leading in-flight product.